6830--Liquid Bulk Oxygen

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Contract Opportunity

Vendor Questions
RFQ 36C24625Q0079
(VAMC Salem Bulk Oxygen)

Vendor Questions (Black) / Response (Red)
CONTRACT TYPE: As the NAICS for this RFQ is 325210 Industrial Gas Manufacturing, please confirm whether this is a Service Contract or a Supply Contract.

Response: This can be interpreted a couple of different ways. On one hand, it could be a service they are providing by delivering the O2. On the other hand, O2 is a commodity and is an expendable product that is being consumed.

DELIVERY DAYS: The RFQ does not specify the facility s operating hours or the expected delivery window (e.g., Mondays thru Friday from 7AM-4PM local time). Please confirm the facility s delivery window that will be expected under the contract that results from this solicitation.

Response: Normal delivery hours will be Monday through Friday from 0700 to 1630. There is an afterhours phone number to call if the delivery will be outside the stated hours but it is used only in an emergency and arrangements would have to be made prior to that delivery. Delivery will be address in the contract resulting from this solicitation.

EMERGENCY DELIVERIES: PG 14 of 59 in the RFQ (Section 6.10) states that Emergency delivery and/or repairs shall be provided within two (2) hours after receipt of Government notification and deliver within 24 hours. This requirement seems to include a typo as the following sentence states that the Contractor must only respond within two hours to confirm receipt.

Please confirm that the requirement is for the Contractor to respond within two hours after notification and to deliver within 24 hours, which is also the industry standard for emergency deliveries.

Response: Since the O2 level is monitored remotely, VA concur with the change in the language to deliver within 24 hours .

HYDROSTATIC TESTING: PG 14 of 59 in the RFQ (Section 6.6) provides a schedule of items that includes the hydrotesting of customer-owned tanks. Because there is no CLIN provided for hydrostatic testing and because this RFQ is soliciting the supply of bulk oxygen and contractor-owned bulk tanks (rather than GFE cylinders that would require testing), please confirm if that the line item was included in error on PG 14 and that hydrotesting is not required under the contract that will result from this solicitation.

Response: Salem VAMC concur with the suggestion of deleting the Hydrostatic Testing. Disregard the Hydrostatic testing statement.

FACILITY-MAINTAINED ALARM SYSTEM: PG 12 of 59 in the RFQ (Section 3.1) states that The contractor will perform the hook-up of contractor owned equipment to the facility-maintained alarm system. Please note that the industry standard is for the supplier/install technician to assist a VA Electrician in the hook-up (physical hook-up must be completed by a VA Electrician; supplier/install technicians cannot directly hook up the alarm system due to liability reasons). Language used in other Bulk Oxygen bids regarding this same topic includes:Â The Contractor shall assist VA electricians with hooking up the facility-maintained alarm system, consistent with NFPA 55 & 99 code requirements.

We ask that the sentence requiring the contractor to perform the hook-up of equipment to the facility-maintained alarm system be replaced in the SOW with language specifying that the contractor will assist a VA Electrician.

Response: Salem VAMC POC concur with the change in the language for the Facility Maintained Alarm System. The VA Electrician will be performing the hook-up to the VA alarm system and the contractor will assist the VA electrician.

As referenced in the SOW of recent VISN 19 RFQ 36C25924Q0837 (VAMC Salt Lake City Bulk Oxygen):
FAR COMPLIANCE:Â Please confirm that the offeror must comply with all federal, state, and local regulations required of the offeror in order to meet the requirements of the statement of work as stated in FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Nov 2023), which is incorporated by reference on PG 17 of 59 the RFQ. More specifically:

FAR 52.212-4, para. (q):Â Other compliances. The Contractor shall comply with all applicable Federal, State and local laws, executive orders, rules and regulations applicable to its performance under this contract.

Please also confirm who the GOV entity is that enforces and ensures compliance with these RFQ terms.

Response: There will be language in the contract addressing this. The VA will conduct audits if required or needed

INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS: There is no mention of liability insurance requirements in the RFQ. How is the GOV going to validate that offerors are properly insured for NAICS 325120/221210 the actual requirement for this work to comply with the RFQ? How do offerors confirm to the GOV that they have the correct type of Liability Insurance, and does this need to be affirmed at the time of bid submission (if not, an awarded firm could be turned down or not be able to afford this coverage in the amounts the GOV requires, respective to NAICS 325120)? This is important because there are very few underwriters that will insure small businesses for the distribution of compressed gases and why confirmation of the applicable NAICS is being requested, in accordance with paragraph (a) of FAR 52.228-5 Insurance Work on a Government Installation.

Response: FAR 52.228-5 removed/disregard

Is the facility interested in upgrading tank sizes from the current systems?

Response: Salem leadership feels that the current tank sizes are sufficient. If a vendor recommends a larger size it can be discussed. The possible issues a larger size tank may cause is the current concrete pad may not be able to accommodate a larger tank.

Has there been any history of vaporizers icing up due to high volume?

Response: Only during certain times of the year.

Are there any planned construction projects on site that may hinder delivery or installation access?

Response: No construction projects are planned for that area.

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